Reading's Kate Winslet to appear on Who Do You Think You Are?

Kate Winslet will delve into her family history on the BBC's Who do you think you are? (Image: Handout)

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But it turns out she also has Scandanavian roots – and her ancestors suffered some of the hardships the Hollywood star may have only come across before on set.

The Titanic star, who won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in The Reader, is the latest celebrity to delve into her family tree on TV show, Who Do You Think You Are?

In the next episode, which will air at 9pm on BBC One on Monday, August 12, Kate will uncover her Swedish heritage on her late mum Sally’s side.

Ahead of the one-hour episode, a programme spokesman said: “Oscar-winning actor Kate Winslet follows a rumour of Scandinavian ancestry on her late mum Sally’s side of the family and is delighted to find that she has Swedish heritage.

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Alex Cox, a researcher on Findmypast, said census records from 1871 showed Kate’s great-great –grandfather John Winslet was living in the Railway Tavern at 33 Greyfriars Road – not far from what today is The Gateway pub.

All five of his children – including a daughter, also named Kate – were also living with John and his wife, Susan, 20 years later after they had moved to the Broad Face Hotel in High Street, according to the 1891 census.

By this time, all the family was involved in running the pub, whether that was as a housekeeper, barmaid, or cellarman.

According to the 1911 census, Kate's grandfather, Charles Winslet, was born in The Lion pub in 1908 (Image: Findmypast)

The Broad Face, at 9 High Street, dated back to the 17 century – but was demolished in 1926.

Fast forward another 10 years to 1901, and John, then 58, was being helped run the pub by his son, Charles.